Emergent Strategy Ideation Institute
The Emergent Strategy Ideation Institute (ESII), founded by adrienne maree brown, is more than an organization — it’s a practice space. A gathering place. A movement builder.
At The Change Lab, we look to ESII as a sibling organization — rooted in relational trust, powered by collective imagination, and committed to helping people move through change with care, alignment, and intention.
Grounded in the wisdom of brown’s book Emergent Strategy, the institute offers tools, training, and facilitation rooted in nature, interdependence, and decentralized leadership. Their work helps people and organizations practice what it means to adapt, reflect, and evolve — together. Whether you’re designing a campaign, launching a project, or repairing a relationship, how we move matters. ESII helps people move in ways that are aligned with their values and rooted in justice.
What They Offer
Strategy facilitation centered on emergent, adaptive practices
Trainings and retreats grounded in somatics, collective care, and imagination
Movement building through storytelling, reflection, and deep listening
Cultural strategy that supports systems transformation without replicating harm
Their approach is especially powerful for those working on the edge of what's possible — organizers, artists, educators, community leaders, and nonprofits that are building while still healing.
Why It Matters to The Change Lab
At The Change Lab, we believe that civic connection and social transformation are not just about outcomes — they’re about how we show up, share power, and build trust in real time. ESII models that beautifully. They remind us that change isn’t a straight line. It’s a conversation. A relationship. A fractal.
Their work affirms a truth we hold dear: small is all — and what we practice together becomes the future we live into.
